Strip transfer device

ABSTRACT

A device for supporting metal strip material between roll stands in a rolling mill which comprises an apron forming member of polished stainless steel plate which is mounted so as to extend between the exit end of one roll stand and the entrance end of the next succeeding roll stand with a sheet supporting surface which is bowed transversely of the path of the strip and which has magnets mounted beneath the same for exerting a downward pull along the center of the strip as it advances across the apron so that the traveling strip will be bowed and stiffened to prevent sagging between the roll stands. An antifriction means may be provided in the center of the apron such as skate rollers or an air cushion.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Dario Buccicone 3,072,309 1/1963Hills, 226/88 Gary, lnd. 3,240,441 3/1966 Hunter et a1. 1. 226/88 X [21]Appl. No. 807,691 3,422,649 l/1969 Lowy 72/22 1 Filed Mar. 17. 1969OTHER REFERENCES #2} T' 2" F 13;. C I IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETINCreating S 'gnee r ngmeenng Transverse Curvature with Air Jets ofvarying Sizes," R. V.

n" Rogers,Vo1. 5, No. 4. Sept. 1962.

Primary ExaminerMilt0n S. Mehr 1 STRIP TRANSFER DEVICE AttorneyGreist,Lockwood, Greenawalt & Dewey 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 72/227,

72/ 226/88 ABSTRACT: A device for supporting metal strip material [51]I111. Cl B2") 41/00 between 01] stands in a rolling mill which comprisesan apron [50] Field of Search 72/227, forming member of polishedstainless steel plate which is 226/83 mounted so as to extend betweenthe exit end of one roll stand 56 R f and the entrance end of the nextsucceeding r01] stand with a l 1 e sheet supporting surface which isbowed transversely of the UNITED STATES PATENTS path of the strip andwhich has magnets mounted beneath the 651,868 6/1900 Leibert 72/227 samefor exerting a downward pull along the center of the strip 1,638,5608/1927 Beveridge... 226/88 as it advances across the apron so that thetraveling strip will 1,824,486 9/1931 Kennedy 72/227 be bowed andstiffened to prevent sagging between the roll 1,986,734 1/1935 Lorig226/88 X stands. An antifriction means may be provided in the center of2,331,246 10/1943 Stoltz 72/227 the apron such as skate rollers or anair cushion.

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PATENTED JUL] 3 I97! SHEET 1 0F 3 ATT 'YS,

PATENTED Jun 3 I97! SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR I DAR/O BUCC/CONE ATTYS.

STRIP TRANSFER DEVICE This invention relates to material handling and ismore particularly concerned with improvements in apparatus forsupporting a metal strip while it is advanced between roll stands in aprocessing line.

In high-speed rolling mill operations, the threading of the metal stripwhile it is traveling at high speeds through various stands has createda problem because the stands are usually some distance apart and as thestrip advances and is rolled thinner it becomes limber so that it mustbe supported while it is pushed by the rolls in the one stand to therolls in the next succeeding stand. The strip is advanced at a high rateof speed and there is a need for guiding and supporting the strip sothat threading of the leading end of the strip between the rolls of thenext stand and transfer of the strip between stands may be accomplishedwithout damage to the strip and/or the roll equipment. Some apparatushas been developed for this purpose particularly where the distancebetween roll stands is relatively large which makes it desirable toprovide a device in the form of a conveyor for both supporting andadvancing the strip between the spaced roll stands. One such arrangementis disclosed in Buccicone US. Pat. No. 3,344,645, dated Oct. 3, 1967. Inthis arrangement conveyor devices are employed which carry the stripbetween the roll stands. An object of the present invention is toprovide a strip transfer device which is relatively simple inconstruction and comparatively inexpensive to produce while highlyeffective in handling the strip material.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a speciallydesigned transfer device for supporting and guiding a metal stripbetween the rolls of a mill stand which is spaced from the dischargeside of the preceding mill stand in a processing line.

It is another object of the invention to provide a transfer unit adaptedto be positioned between pairs of spaced mil] stands for guiding andsupporting a metal strip as it is advanced from the one mill stand tothe next wherein the unit is provided with means for supporting theedges of the strip at a predetermined level and a means for drawing themiddle portion of the strip out of the plane of the edges so as toimpart a curvature continuously to the traveling strip in a directiontransversely of the path of travel thereby stiffening the strip andpreventing sagging of the strip as the forward end is advanced forthreading between the rolls of the succeeding mill stand.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a transferdevice adapted to be positioned between a pair of mill stands in astrip-processing line wherein the device is provided with a means forsupporting the edges of the strip while it is advanced between the millstands and a a series of magnets are spaced along the center portion ofthe device for subjecting the same to a magnetic pull so as to impart astiffening curvature to the strip and prevent the leading edge portionfrom dropping out of line thereby to insure proper threading as theleading edge of the strip is advanced to the rolls of the receiving millstand.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a strip-supportingand transfer apparatus which is adjustably mounted so as to permitraising the lowering of the portion thereof defining the path traversedby the strip across the same and which is also mounted so that it may bereadily removed to clear the area between the mill stands.

Another object of the invention is to provide a transfer device adaptedto be positioned between a pair of spaced mill stands in astrip-processing line which comprises an apron mounted for verticaladjustment and formed of stainless steel plate, with a highly polishedstrip-engaging surface which is bowed transversely, together with meansfor exerting suffi- A further object of the invention is to provide atransfer device of the character described having a bowed apron sur'face over which the strip is adapted to pass and an antifriction meansfor reducing the drag which is otherwise exerted on the strip byfrictional contact as it passes across the surface of the apron.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the strip transfer and supporting apparatuswhich is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. I is a plan view of a strip transfer device which incorporatestherein the principal features of the invention, the device being shownin operative position between a pair of roll stands;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, to an enlargedscale;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, to anenlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section similar to FIG. 3, to a larger scaleand showing a modification of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section, to a larger scale, showing adetail of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section illustrating a further modification ofthe apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross section on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, to anenlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a modified form of the strip transferdevice; and

FIG. 10 is an elevational view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a strip transferdevice 10 disposed between a pair of conventional roll stands 11 and 12which are spaced apart in a strip-rolling mill, the stands beingindicated diagrammatically. The strip material S is adapted to beadvanced by driven rollers 13 and 14 from the exit or discharge side ofthe mill stand 11 and fed to or threaded between the entrance orreceiving rollers 15 and 16 of the mill stand 12. The transfer device 10is adapted to support the strip S and permit the same to be advancedbetween the stands 11 and 12 with the strip being held on the pass line,which is indicated at 17, so that it is passed across the device andthreaded between the rollers 15 and 16.

The transfer device 10 comprises an apron forming plate 20 (FIGS. 1 to4) which is mounted on a supporting stand 21 adapted to be positionedbetween the exit end of the mill stand 11 and the entrance end of themill stand 12. The apron 20 in the form of the apparatus illustrated hasfixed side guide members 22 and 23 and is mounted on the horizontal topframe 24 of the stand 21. The apron 20 which forms the main support forthe strip S has a downwardly inclined marginal portion 25 at itsentrance side to insure that the leading edge of the strip will not gobelow the same. The apron 20 is preferably formed of a stainless steelplate with a polished top surface for engaging the strip S, whichsurface has a transverse bow, as shown in FIG. 3, for imparting astiffening curvature in the sheet material. The side plates 22 and 23form fixed side guides for the strip material. A box forming a housing26 i mounted beneath the apron 20 along the line of travel of the stripS and a plurality of spaced magnets 27 are mounted therein. These may befixed or permanent-type magnets or electromagnets, as desired.

The apron 20 is shown supported in operative position on the stand 21which comprises the top horizontal frame 24 and a vertically spacedbottom horizontal frame 28, with a pair of connecting scissors frames 29and 29' disposed between the same. The scissors frames 29 and 29' areconnected by pivot bar 30 and each frame is connected at one end by apivot 31 and 32, to the respective top and bottom horizontal frame 24and 28 while the other end carries rollers 33 and 34 engaging wearplates 35 and 36 on the top and bottom frames 24 and 28. The top frame24 is adapted to be raised and lowered by a fluid cylinder 37 havingpiston 37' which is pivotally connected to a portion of the top frame24. The cylinder 37 is pivotally mounted on bracket 38 on the bottomframe 28 which carries rollers or wheels 39 so that the stand may bereadily moved about.

In using the device, the apron may be wheeled into the desired positionfor use and removed from between the mill stands when not in use. Thestrength of the magnets 27may be adjusted to bow the sheet while holdingthe drag on the same to a minimum.

In FIG. 5 there is illustrated a modified apparatus which is designed toreduce any drag on the strip S which might retard its advance. In thisform of the apparatus the apron 40 is provided with parallel slots at43, 42 and 43 alongside of and between the two rows of magnets 44 toaccommodate a series of skate rollers 45, 4b and 47 arranged in spaced,parallel row arrangement. The rollers 45, 46 and 47 may be mounted, asshown in FIG. 6, where roller 47 is supported on shaft 48 journaled insuitable bearing formations on the flange members 50 and El dependingfrom the bottom face of the apron 4th. The roller 47, of course, extendsslightly above the top surface of the apron 40 so as to lift the strip Sslightly above the apron surface. The rollers 45, 46 and 47 may betransversely aligned or arranged in alternate relation.

Another modification of the apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8which is designed to minimize any drag on the strip S. In this form ofthe apparatus the apron 60 is provided at the entrance edge with an airchamber or manifold bl extending across the longitudinal center of theapron 60 having a slot 62 forming a restricted opening onto the upperface of the apron 60 above the box or housing 63 in which magnets 64 arehoused. The manifold 61 is connected by means of inlet con.- duit 65 toa source of compressed air with suitable controls (not shown) forsupplying sufficient airflow to provide a cushion under the strip S asit advances across the apron dill. Other details of the apparatus may bethe same as in the apparatus previously described.

A still further modified form of the apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 9and 110. The apron 60 in this form of the apparatus is divided into arelatively fixed center section an and relatively movable side sections62 and 62 which extend on opposite sides of the center section 611. Thecenter apron section 61 is fixed on the top frame 24 of a supportstructure 211 which may be the same as in FIGS. 2 and 3. The centerplate section has a magnet box or housing 64 on its bottom face withmagnets 65 arranged therein. The side plate sections are hinged at 66and 66' to the support frame 24 by means of suitable brackets and pivotsso that the outboard free edges may be swung upwardly. Eye bolts 70 and70' are pivotally connected at 711 and 'ill to depending flange members72 and 72' and adjustably corinected to apertured brackets 73 and 73' onthe frame 24 by nut assemblies 74 and 74 threaded onto the bolts onopposite sides of the brackets 73 and 73'. This enables the transversebow of the plate assembly to be varied by raising and lowering theoutboard margins of the plate sections 62 and 62. The side guide plates75 and 75' are fixed on the support frame 24. Other details of theapparatus may be as heretofore described.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for supporting a flat metal strip for transfer betweenone mill stand and the next succeeding mill stand which is spacedtherefrom in a strip-processing line, said apparatus comprising anapronlike plate member adapted to be positioned to form a sheet engagingtop surface bridging the gap between the discharge rolls of said onemill stand and the entrance rolls of said next succeeding mill stand andsupporting the strip longitudinally and transversely as it advancesbetween said mill stands, said plate member having a bow in thesheet-engaging top surface in the direction transverse of the path of astrip advancing across said plate member, and a means for exerting amagnetic force on the strip so as to make it curve transversely andconform generally to the bow in the plate member and thereby stiffen thestrip while it advances across said plate member and travels betweensaid millstands.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, and ad ustable means forsupporting said plate member so as to permit movement of said platemember to a nonoperative position below the pass line, thereby to clearthe space between the mill stands.

3. An apparatus set forth in claim 11, and said plate member being ofnonmagnetic material with its top strip engaging surface polished so asto exert a minimum of drag on the strip.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and said means for exerting amagnetic force comprising a plurality of magnets spaced along thecentral portion of said plate member.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim l, and said plate member havingantifriction means associated with the means for exerting magnetic forceon the strip so as to reduce any drag on the strip due to contact of thesame with the surface of said plate member.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, and said plate member havingslots therein and antifriction means comprising a plurality ofantifriction rollers mounted for free rotation in strip engagingrelation in said slots.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, and said plate member having anair compartment adjacent said magnets with a discharge slot opening ontothe strip engaging face of said plate member and means connecting saidair compartment with a source of compressed air so as to cushion thestrip and reduce the frictional drag on the strip which may result fromcontact with the face of said plate member.

8. A metal-strip-supporting device for positioning between the exit endof one mill stand and the entrance end of the next succeeding mill standin a metal-strip-processing line which supporting device comprises anapron forming plate assembly and a means for supporting said plateassembly with a stripsupporting top surface approximately at the passline so as to bridge the gap between the exit and entrance ends of saidmill stands, said plate assembly having a strip-supporting top surfacewhich is bowed transversely of the pass line and magnetic means forexerting a force on the center portion of the strip along the pass lineso as to draw the center portion of the strip toward the top surface ofsaid plate assembly and impart a transverse bow in the strip confirminggenerally to the bow in the plate assembly, thereby to stiffen the stripand minimize sag between the mill stands so as to pass the strip freelybetween the stands without buckling.

9. A strip-supporting device as set forth in claim d, and said plateassembly having laterally extending plate sections which are adjustableto vary the transverse bow in the strip-supporting surface.

110. A strip-supporting device as set forth in claim 8, and said plateassembly including a relatively fixed center section and laterallyextending side sections which are mounted so that the outboard marginsmay be adjusted to vary the transverse bow in the strip-supportingsurface.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3 s 59 2 DatedJuly 13 Patent No.

Inventor(s) Dario Buccicone It is-certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 62, the first occurrence of "the" should be and Column 2,line 60, "i" should be is Column 2, line 20, "FIG. 4" should be FIG. 5

Column '4, line 16, before set" insert as Column 4, line 50,"confirming" should be conforming Signed and sealed this 11th day ofJanuary 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.F'LETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO {10-69) USCOM'WDC 50375,;59

u s sovznuusm PRINTING ornce 1 Ins oaos-:s|

1. An apparatus for supporting a flat metal strip for transfer betweenone mill stand and the next succeeding mill stand which is spacedtherefrom in a strip-processing line, said apparatus comprising anapronlike plate member adapted to be positioned to form a sheet engagingtop surface bridging the gap between the discharge rolls of said onemill stand and the entrance rolls of said next succeeding mill stand andsupporting the strip longitudinally and transversely as it advancesbetween said mill stands, said plate member having a bow in thesheet-engaging top surface in the direction transverse of the path of astrip advancing across said plate member, and a means for exerting amagnetic force on the strip so as to make it curve transversely andconform generally to the bow in the plate member and thereby stiffen thestrip while it advances across said plate member and travels betweensaid mill stands.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, andadjustable means for supporting said plate member so as to permitmovement of said plate member to a nonoperative position below the passline, thereby to clear the space between the mill stands.
 3. Anapparatus set forth in claim 1, and said plate member being ofnonmagnetic material with its top strip engaging surface polished so asto exert a minimum of drag on the strip.
 4. An apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, and said means for exerting a magnetic force comprising aplurality of magnets spaced along the central portion of said platemember.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and said plate memberhaving antifriction means associated with the means for exertingmagnetic force on the strip so as to reduce any drag on the strip due tocontact of the same with the surface of said plate member.
 6. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 4, and said plate member having slotstherein and antifriction means comprising a plurality of antifrictionrollers mounted for free rotation in strip engaging relation in saidslots.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, and said plate memberhaving an air compartment adjacent said magnets with a discharge slotopening onto the strip engaging face of said plate member and meansconnecting said air compartment with a source of compressed air so as tocushion the strip and reduce the frictional drag on the strip which mayresult from contact with the face of said plate member.
 8. Ametal-strip-supporting device for positioning between the exit end ofone mill stand and the entrance end of the next succeeding mill stand ina metal-strip-processing line which supporting device comprises an apronforming plate assembly and a means for supporting said plate assemblywith a strip-supporting top surface approximately at the pass line so asto bridge the gap between the exit and entrance ends of said millstands, said plate assembly having a strip-supporting top surface whichiS bowed transversely of the pass line and magnetic means for exerting aforce on the center portion of the strip along the pass line so as todraw the center portion of the strip toward the top surface of saidplate assembly and impart a transverse bow in the strip confirminggenerally to the bow in the plate assembly, thereby to stiffen the stripand minimize sag between the mill stands so as to pass the strip freelybetween the stands without buckling.
 9. A strip-supporting device as setforth in claim 8, and said plate assembly having laterally extendingplate sections which are adjustable to vary the transverse bow in thestrip-supporting surface.
 10. A strip-supporting device as set forth inclaim 8, and said plate assembly including a relatively fixed centersection and laterally extending side sections which are mounted so thatthe outboard margins may be adjusted to vary the transverse bow in thestrip-supporting surface.